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Greece court orders state broadcaster ERT back on air | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Greek court has ordered that state broadcaster ERT, which was shut down by the government last week, can resume transmissions. | |
However, the court also upheld a plan by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to replace ERT with a smaller broadcaster. | |
The ruling came as Mr Samaras and his coalition partners - furious that they had not been consulted about ERT's closure - held crisis talks. | |
The prime minister's decision triggered mass protests across the country. | |
The leading party in the governing coalition, the conservative New Democracy, said last Tuesday that ERT suffered from chronic mismanagement, lack of transparency and waste. | |
It shut the broadcaster down with the loss of nearly 2,700 jobs. Viewers saw TV screens go black as the signal was switched off. | |
Greece's top administrative court - the Council of State - upheld Mr Samaras's plan to replace ERT with a new broadcaster later this year but backed the position of the other coalition partners that the signal must be restored in the interim. | |
The case was brought by ERT's union in an attempt to overturn Mr Samaras's surprise move. | |
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says each side will claim victory, but in the end the unity of the government has been badly weakened. | |
During talks, Mr Samaras had suggested a new, leaner, cheaper broadcaster would be established within weeks and he proposed hiring a small team to produce news programmes in the interim. | |
But this idea was rejected by his two coalition partners - Evangelos Venizelos of Pasok and Fotis Kouvelis of the Democratic Left. | But this idea was rejected by his two coalition partners - Evangelos Venizelos of Pasok and Fotis Kouvelis of the Democratic Left. |
"The court decision is essentially in line with what we've said: no one has the right to shut down national radio and television and turn screens black," said Mr Kouvelis after the emergency talks ended. | |
Mr Venizelos said they would meet again on Wednesday to discuss a cabinet reshuffle. | |
An official from New Democracy said the ruling affirmed the government's position that ERT had been scrapped. | |
The row has threatened to topple the government and force Greece into snap elections, triggering political turmoil with implications for the whole eurozone. | |
ERT workers celebrated outside the broadcaster's headquarters after hearing the court ruling. | ERT workers celebrated outside the broadcaster's headquarters after hearing the court ruling. |
"I've been here seven nights and this is the first time I've seen people smile," said reporter Eleni Hrona. | "I've been here seven nights and this is the first time I've seen people smile," said reporter Eleni Hrona. |
However, our correspondent says there is also the recognition that later this year many will lose their jobs as a smaller broadcaster is formed. | |
Meanwhile, as coalition leaders went into talks, the main opposition party Syriza held a rally in Athens' Syntagma Square to demand early elections. | Meanwhile, as coalition leaders went into talks, the main opposition party Syriza held a rally in Athens' Syntagma Square to demand early elections. |